5. Practicing

5 Practicing After school, I ran home from my bus stop. It was Mother's day off from work. She was in the backyard playing with my baby brother named Ollie. Ollie is ten months old. He cannot skip or play tag or color. So far, I am not that satisfied with him. I ran out the back door. "Mother! Mother! I'm going to be a helper! I'm going to be a helper!" I shouted real

cheery. I quick handed her my permission slip. "Read this paper! Hurry! It's from Mrs. Gutzman!" I said. "You remember Mrs. Gutzman, right? Mrs. Gutzman used to be my cookie lady last year. But this year she's branched out, apparently. 'Cause now she's the boss of the whole kitchen operation, I think." Mother read the permission slip.

I bounced up and down very excited. "See, Mother? See? Mrs. Gutzman wants me to be her helper in the cafeteria tomorrow. And so all you have to do is sign that paper. And I will be all set." I started back to the house. "I'll go get you a pen!"

Mother hollered, "Hold on" to me. "This really does sound like fun, Junie B.," she said. "But let's talk it over at dinner, okay? At dinner you can tell Daddy and me all about it." I did a big breath at her. "But I don't want to talk it over at dinner, Mother," I said. "I want you to sign that paper right exactly now. Please, please? Just sign it, okay?" Mother smiled. "Patience, Junie B.," she said. "Dinner is just a few hours away. I'd like Daddy to be in on this, too." I rolled my eyes way up to the sky 'Cause Daddy always has to be in on everything. Finally, I went back in the house. And I walked around the kitchen very bored. "There's not even anything to do in this stupid dumb house," I grouched.

Then, all of a sudden, I spotted my backpack sitting on the floor. That's when I remembered my plastic mitts! I'd put them in my backpack to carry them home from school! I hurried to get them out of there. Then I quick put them on. And I ran to the refrigerator. "Now I can practice touching food!" I said real thrilled. I opened up the door and started touching stuff. First, I touched some fruit, and an avocado, and a squishy tomato. Then I put my hand in the butter. And also some creamy cottage cheese. "Whoa. These mitts make touching food enjoyable," I said.

After I was done, I put the mitts in my pocket. And I went to watch TV. Only I couldn't even pay attention that good. 'Cause I kept on thinking about being a helper, of course. My excitement got bigger and bigger. Then hurray, hurray! Daddy finally came home from work! And it was time for dinner! As soon as I sat down, I told Daddy all about Mrs. Gutzman. Then surprise! I put on my mitts. And I waved my hands all around in the air. "Look, Mother! Look, Daddy! See what Mrs. Gutzman gave me? These are real